India accepts Pak offer of consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav

The announcement came nearly six weeks after a meeting between Indian officials and Jadhav did not materialise amid differences between New Delhi and Islamabad on the terms of the consular access to the retired Indian navy officer.

Indian officials have accepted consular access to Jadhav for 2 hours on noon today. The decision could be Pakistan trying to extend an olive branch while relations between India and Pakistan are tensed post the Kashmir issue.

Earlier Pakistan had offered consular access with a condition attached that one Pakistani official would be present.

Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia will be meeting with Jadhav today. However, it isn’t clear whether or not a Pakistani officer will be present during the meet. Sources said they hope Pakistan ensures the “right atmosphere” for the meeting.

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Jadhav, 49, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of “espionage and terrorism” in April 2017, following which India had moved the International Court of Justice (ICJ), seeking a stay on his death sentence and further remedies.

“Consular access for Indian spy Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav, a serving Indian naval officer and RAW operative, is being provided on Monday 2 September 2019, in line with Vienna Convention on Consular relations, ICJ judgement & the laws of Pakistan,” Foreign Office Spokesman Mohammad Faisal tweeted.

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